Auricular hematoma clamp

ABSTRACT

An improved ear pressure device and process for treatment of auricular hematoma in a pendent ear of animal. The device is comprised of two opposing rigid plates each containing at least one raised lineal or area encompassing rib located on inward surface and used for applying pressure and controlling blood flow to and from area treated. The process includes: aspirating pooled blood with a hypodermic needle; attach first plate to ear with raised rib toward ear using athletic tape; align and attach opposing plate, rib facing inward, to first plate and ear; tape entire device to top of head with athletic tape over and under forming a loop around head of animal while allowing for normal breathing to occur. The device applies even pressure from both opposing plates and the raised ribs control the blood flow. The device and process eliminates the need for surgery, sutures, and possible infection therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The auricular hematoma clamp is a compression device in the field of veterinary medicine for use in treatment of hematomas in pendent ears of animals. The invention stems from the need for a non-invasive treatment for auricular hematoma. Treatments such as surgery to repair the affected ear can cause infection, pain, and discomfort especially when associated with pressure devices for healing the hematoma including penetrations through the ear and conchal cartilage with sutures or wire securing devices. Surgery to the affected ear often leaves permanent scarring, wilting, shriveling to the ear. The opening of the inner ear flap and suturing the broken blood vessel allows for possibility of infection. The use of quilting stitches to control the ear flap from expanding are uncomfortable for the animal. In addition, backing members used for the compression are made of heavy materials to retain their rigidity but add unneeded weight to the animals head and allow for discomfort to the animal. Furthermore, compression devices made of metal strips for conformity over the ear remain malleable and allow for expansion in the area of treatment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The auricular hematoma clamp with a raised rib offers a healing solution for auricular hematoma in pendent animal's ear without surgical treatments, lessens the chance of infection, and provides a less painful means to heal the hematoma. The auricular hematoma clamp is a simple device consisting of two opposing ridged plates, each said plate containing a raised rib rising from inward surface, when positioned and attached to and over ear and opposing plate, form a clamp to prevent a hematoma from pooling in the pinna (auricle) while the raised ribs control the blood flow to and from affected area. The auricular hematoma clamp is attached to ear of animal with athletic tape or similar adhesive tape. The entire device is then attached to head of animal with a loop of tape over and under head and neck of animal. The plates are either flat or conform similar to ear's shape. The raised ribs apply pressure to allow the controlled blood flow to and from the area of injured ear making healing recovery time sooner. The auricular hematoma clamp requires no need for surgery, eliminates the danger of rupture, and provides more comfort for the animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0003]FIG. 1 exhibits the auricular hematoma clamp comprised of two opposing plates, whereas each plate containing a raised rib rising from inward surface;

[0004]FIG. 2 exhibits the rib rises from the surface a small amount;

[0005]FIG. 3 exhibits the auricular hematoma clamp is comprised of two plates, each plate with a raised rib located on the inward surface, whereas one plate is shown properly positioned and secured with athletic tape to affected ear, and the second plate is shown ready for attachment with athletic tape over ear and to other plate;

[0006]FIG. 4 exhibits athletic tape is first folded over the ear's edges forming tabs when the tape is extended beyond the ear;

[0007]FIG. 5 exhibits the inward plate surface with an area encompassed by the raised rib; and

[0008]FIG. 6 exhibits a crossection of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The auricular hematoma clamp consists of two opposing plates, each of said plate to be thin, ridged, lightweight, and contain at least one raised rib rising above the inward surface facing toward the affected ear in direct opposition with other said plate. The rib rises only a small amount above surface of plate. The size and configuration of the plates need to be slightly larger than and conform to ear of animal as to encompass and conceal ear inside clamp. In specific instances, the plates of the auricular hematoma clamp may be smaller than the whole ear but remain large enough as to encompass the affected area maintaining the raised ribs beyond the affected area. Athletic tape is used to prepare the external ear (pinna) for acceptance of the auricular hematoma clamp, by folding the tape over the ear's edges (helix) from the base end at the head to the outward end leaving a segment beyond outward end forming a tab. Athletic tape, or similar adhesive tape, is also used to secure the two opposing plates together around the affected ear to form the clamp. With the device secured to ear and the tabs exposed, tape the auricular hematoma clamp over the head of the animal to assist in prevention of blood pooling and to prevent flapping of device and ear by animal. Proper care of the exposed under side of animal's ear needs to be attended to while the auricular hematoma clamp is in place to prevent foreign objects from entering the ear canal, and/or to prevent chaffing or abrasions from occurring to the softer tissues exposed.

[0010] Although the device can remain in the pendent position and have healing occur, the chance of accidental removal by animal may cause the treatment to be interrupted. The pendent position is not recommended for these reasons and the device would need to be properly reattached in proper location for additional treatment.

[0011] Proper attachment of the auricular hematoma clamp plates to the ear are as follows: Aspirate blood pool from ear with a hypodermic needle; prepare affected ear with tape for attachment of first opposing plate; secure first plate to ear with tape by folding tape over plate and ear edges (helix), making sure the ear is centered inside all edges of plate and that the raised rib is towards ear; careful position of second plate over ear and first plate, maintaining proper position of second plate over first plate in parallel, will correctly align the two opposing raised ribs and allow the auricular hematoma clamp to perform properly; tape auricular hematoma clamp, with the ear inside and the tab exposed, to top of animal's head with a loop of tape over and under animals head, making sure the loop of tape does not prohibit the animal from normal breathing; animal must wear the auricular hematoma clamp for several consecutive days for healing to occur.

[0012] The auricular hematoma clamp can be worn with the ear in pendent position, but the chance of the animal shaking the device free, or dislodging the device from the ear is greater. Take care of the exposed under side of ear to prevent chaffing and or debris accumulation. After five or more consecutive days, remove the auricular hematoma clamp and let ear rest for at least two days before attaching the auricular hematoma clamp for an additional treatment. More than one treatment may be required to fully heal the hematoma.

[0013] As presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,212, issued to Gaskill in October 1997, there are limitations associated with present ear pressure dressings to fill the need for a device and process providing such a dressing that is capable of applying a uniform pressure, with compression forces that are generally perpendicular to all of the relevant surfaces of the injured portion, which is minimally invasive, simple and expeditious to apply, and inexpensive. The auricular hematoma clamp fills the need described, and with the use of the raised rib, sufficiently makes improvements to the treatments here associated.

[0014] There are problems with Gaskill's invention as it relates to auricular hematoma in animals. The use of a heavy material will cause discomfort due to the size of the plates required for performing the intended function. Attachment of Gaskill's invention requires penetration through the ear with a wire implement and securing the implement to retain pressure. The attachment through the ear and subsequent conchal cartilage can cause a tear in the pinna and may cause discomfort along with the possibility of infection.

[0015] As presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,950, issued to Godley in October 1992, the ear pressure dressing is comprised of thin ductile material bendable to desired form as to insure proper alignment with opposite side of ear. There are limitations with this ear pressure dressing in respect to size and ability to create consistent pressure over a wide area such as the animal's pendent ear. The use of bendable material to perform the function of applying pressure at a point away from the helix can only produce a negative pressure difference at the point furthest from the helix thus exerting less pressure to the affected area.

[0016] The rigid material used for the auricular hematoma clamp allows for even pressure applied across the surfaces of both plates and insures consistency with respect to the plates remaining parallel. Also, the rigid plates perform the function of holding constant the raised ribs with regard to the distance between the raised ribs as set during initial attachment over affected area.

[0017] As presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,176, issued to Chang in August 1998, pressure devices are at present used for purpose of providing controlled pressure to a selected point on the skin of a patient as per the field of the invention, acupressure. Chang's invention is not intended to control blood flow as is the raised ribs of the auricular hematoma clamp.

[0018] The raised rib on the plate of the auricular hematoma clamp is used in conjunction with the opposing raised rib on opposing plate to enable the process to control the blood flow to and from the area being treated and is not intended to apply pressure to a specific acupressure point, but rather to apply pressure in a linear fashion to the specific area between the two raised ribs.

[0019] As presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,961, issued to Barnes in November 2001, the device for protecting newly cropped ears of animals is intended for post surgery, and to promote the earlier recovery from said surgery. The cause for surgery is elective and an ear portion is removed leaving much recovery to occur from underneath the protective cups. The auricular hematoma clamp is a device used as an alternate for surgery to an affected ear with a hematoma. The raised rib might act as an improvement to Barne's device for assistance in healing surgery for ear alteration. Although the perforations in Barne's device for adjustment to ear size are an important feature, a better fit is accomplished by trimming the auricular hematoma clamp to fit slightly larger than ear being treated. Barnes improvement over the U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,189, issued to Olvera in September 1980, comprises the perforations for adjustment and the ventilated materials used for creating such said cups. Both features would not work well with pendent ears which require flat plates and a rigid material for the said plates construction.

[0020] The raised rib performs the function of maintaining a constant distance between the two said ribs to apply slight pressure to ear flap thus controlling the amount of blood flow to and from area affected. The pressure applied need not be enough to stop the flow of blood as per a tourniquet, but need only to apply light pressure to inhibit the flow of blood. As the process of healing continues with the auricular hematoma clamp in place, the swelling will decrease, thus decreasing the pressure applied at said raised ribs allowing for more normal flow of blood to and from affected area and for natural healing to take place.

[0021] In addition to the aforementioned examples, it is made clear that any deviation by those skilled in the art, in materials, attachment procedures, locations of one or all of the features associated cannot limit the invention, and that the appended claims set forth are to be interpreted as encompassing the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An auricular hematoma clamp, comprising: a pair of opposing plates, each of said plate to have an inward surface and an outward surface, each of said inward surface containing a raised rib in aligned position to opposing said raised rib on opposing said plate, each of said plate to be rigid, each of said plate to be lightweight, each of said plate to conform slightly larger to general size and shape of pinna; means to secure device to ear; means to secure device to head of animal.
 2. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein one raised rib is located near bottom on inward surface area of said plates.
 3. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein more than one raised rib is located on inward surface area of said plates.
 4. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein raised rib is molded in a fashion to encompass an area located on inward surface area of said plates.
 5. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein said plates are of a material allowable to form over contours of head and still remain rigid.
 6. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein surface area of plates are flat.
 7. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein surface area of plates are curved.
 8. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein means of attachment of device to ear is with athletic tape or similar adhesive tape.
 9. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein means of attachment of device to head of animal is with athletic tape or similar adhesive tape.
 10. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein outward surfaces may be smooth.
 11. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein outward surfaces may contain features for added rigidity.
 12. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein plates may be composed of a material allowable for trimming with cutting utensil to shape of ear.
 13. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein by increasing the height of the raised rib, padding could be used in conjunction with inward surface.
 14. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 1, wherein the plates may only encompass the entire area of treatment without encompassing the entire ear.
 15. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 14, wherein the raised rib may be segmented.
 16. The auricular hematoma clamp of claim 14, wherein more than one raised rib may be in more than one location. 